An Amsterdam court has ordered ING to let the Consumentenbond inspect its contracts with Google on the use of customer data in Google Pay.
The consumers’ association and Stichting Benadeelden in Actie brought the case early this year.
They want to see the written deals that set out how information is handled when ING clients pay contactless on Android phones.
Both groups say they are concerned about the privacy of people who now rely on Google Pay for everyday transactions.
Forced app switch
In September 2024 ING stopped using its own payment app and moved Android users onto Google Pay.
Customers who want to pay contactless with an Android phone and an ING card must now go through Google’s service.
The Consumentenbond and the foundation call that arrangement undesirable.
They argue that personal data then reaches a large tech company that has faced repeated criticism over privacy practices.
What the judge ruled
On Thursday the district court in Amsterdam partly accepted the organizations’ demands.
It ruled that ING must give them access to the agreements covering contactless payments by ING customers on Android devices via Google Pay.
The order is limited to inspection by those two groups rather than a full public release of the contracts.
It is not yet clear how or when the bank will arrange that access, or whether either side will take further legal steps.
Why the contracts matter
Mobile wallets such as Google Pay sit between a bank and the customer’s phone, so some data always moves between the two systems.
Consumer groups have long asked for clearer limits on what is shared, how long it is kept, and who can use it.
This case turns specifically on the private contracts that define those rules for ING’s Android clients.
Physical bank cards and other payment methods remain available for people who prefer not to use the phone wallet.
